Frequently Asked Questions and Tips
How can I speed up the play of the game?
The default speed is set at the game's slowest play. After you have played the game for a while and pick up the rhythm of bidding and card play, un-check "Warning Beep" in Options under the Special Features menu. This will speed up play considerably. Also, un-check "Allow Animation" in Options under the Special Features menu will improve the speed of the game. Un-check "Sound" in Options under the Special Features menu will have a small effect on some machines. "Fast Play" in Options under the Special Features menu should always be checked (default setting). Un-check "Highlight Card" will further reduce the number of clicks necessary to play a card. In Windows version 3, try checking "Quick Bid."
The fastest way to speed up the bidding, is to use the keypad to enter your bid. You can use the keypad and/or the visual bidding (mouse click) at the same time. By un-checking "Visual Bidding" in Options under the Special Features menu, you will be forced to use the keypad as the the visual bid buttons disappear and are replaced by card backs. Look at your manual to learn which keys control the bidding.
Finally, if you don't need the Alerts flashing, you can selectively disable them by going to the Special Features menu and choosing Convention Alerts. You will then be presented with a series of dialog boxes that will allow you to deactivate specific Alerts.Why do the cards appear so small?
The optimum resolution to play the game is 800 X 600 [true color or 32 bit for Windows® and millions of colors for Macintosh®]. On Macintosh®, playing with higher resolution will make the cards appear smaller. Less resolution will enlarge them. Windows® is scaled so that cards appear larger at any screen resolution.Why should I save the initial Installer /.sit file after purchase?
The program that is initially downloaded upon purchase contains code that enables you to reinstall your program if you re-initialize your hard drive, change computers or install a new hard drive. It is different from the demo [trial] version. The demo version cannot be properly registered. Macintosh users must save the UNOPENED .sit file and only use a copy of the game contained within this .sit file to actually open and play. This applies to both the BridgePro™ game and CardStuffer™.
It is strongly recommended that you save your Installer/.sit file to removable media such as a CD or floppy.Why can't I open the manual?
The Manuals are in .pdf format. If you do not have the appropriate Adobe® program on your computer, download their free Acrobat Reader™ .This reader will allow you to open the manuals.
Can I give BridgePro and/or CardStuffer as a gift?
Yes, it is easy to do (Click Here).Will there be an Vista compatible version for Windows®?
Yes, BridgePro™ and CardStuffer™ are now both compatible with the Vista operating system. Recently, specific improvements have been made to animation, performance and scaling. [see Tip below.]In Windows®: Why do I get a mouse pointing error?
In the 2000/XP edition, you should set your Themes to the Classic mode. [You can set this permanently for only the game by going to your Program Folder on the boot drive (C:), then open the mask Folder -> BridgePro Folder and right click on the BridgePro™ game icon. Click Properties and then choose the Compatibility tab. Check Disable Visual Themes.] Some manufacturers set the default for font size higher than normal [E-machines]. In the Control Panel, select Display and click the Setting tab. Choose Advanced and make sure the DPI Setting is Normal Size (96).
Another reason for this error may be that you have a tool bar on the left or top side of your screen. This must be removed or moved to the right or bottom of your monitor screen when BridgePro™ or CardStuffer™ are in use.In Windows®: Why do the colors look atrocious?
In Windows® 9x/NT/Me/NT you must set your Display Panel to True Color [24 bit or 32bit] or 256 Color. {Go to your Control Panel then click on Display Panel and choose the Settings tab. Change Color to True Color (best choice) or 256 Color or 32bit.} Also, see above instructions for disabling Themes in XP.In Windows®: Why do I get bizarre behavior, freezes or pop-up ads with each click?
Freezing is sometimes easily eliminated by un-checking Warning Beep and Highlight Card in the Option menu under Special Features. If this does not work, your computer may have been infected with 'spybots.' You can rid your computer of these pests and protect yourself by downloading FREE programs that delete these offensive intruders.
Go to either:or
. Make sure you download the latest update from within the program itself. Run the program after updating and delete all the identified offending spybots. The above behavior will be gone! [If you have the XP operating system, CLICK HERE.]
Some specific 'spybots' are easily overcome by simply un-checking Highlight Card in the Option menu under Special Features. Even if this ablates the abnormal behavior, you should still run the above program as 'spybots,' in general, are malicious and should be permanently removed from your machine.A Tip for improving the graphic interface in Windows® XP - Home Edition:
To improve the look of your cards and, in general, improve the look of all your fonts in all your programs, go to any blank area on your desktop and right-click. Choose Properties, then select Appearance tab. Click the Effects button. Check "Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts" and choose ClearType from the drop-down menu.In Windows®, why will BridgePro™ not open?
You must install and play the game on the boot drive [usually C].In Windows® 2000, XP, and Vista why will BridgePro™ not open?
You must have administrative privileges to properly install and play the game. On rare occasion the video card driver has become corrupted or is out-of-date.In Windows®, why is installation so slow or hung up?
Be sure to turn off all anti-spyware programs before beginning the installation. Turning off virus protection programs is also recommended.Why do I seem to get many "Error in Logic" alerts?
You must wait for the watch or hourglass cursor to disappear. You can only execute a new key or mouse command when the arrow cursor is showing. Also, this alert will appear if directions for the last card to be played on a board are not exactly followed. Older and slower computers may experience this problem more frequently.Can I play BridgePro™ on my Mac with an Intel® chip set?
Yes, if you have installed the free beta patch from Apple® called Boot Camp or if you have Leopard OS or above. You will also need to install Windows® XP or Vista. Then download our Windows® version of the game. It will play without any difficulties.In Mac OS X Panther and above [10.3], why do I get a message indicating I cannot open a Classic program?
You must install System 9.x.x which can be found on your original Apple Macintosh installation CD. Look in the folder: Additional Software. Once installed, our game will open automatically in 9.x.x and revert automatically to OS X when you close the game [ In Tiger, the software is on CD 2 in the folder entitled 'Install Mac OS 9 System Support'. On some installation disks look for "Install Extra Software."]. Our game is not compatible with the new Mac Intel based chip set. However, if you are using the Leopard OS [10.5. and above] or have the Boot Camp beta installed and have Windows® installed, you can play our version 3 of the Windows® version [see above].Why do I get a 'File Type Not Recognized' error on my Mac when I try to open the .sit file?
You do not have the proper program to decompress [expand] the .sit file. You can download a FREE StuffIt Expander. Click Here and select the FREE StuffIt Expander for Macintosh®. You will download the Standard Edition with its the Free Expander. You may discard the Standard version after its trial period is done, but keep the FREE expander. Use the Expander to access a decompressed version of the BridgePro.sit file by dragging the .sit file onto the Expander icon [If you are asked for a password, use the password you assigned by you to your computer.].Why won't BridgePro™ open on my new Mac?
BridgePro™ is not compatible with Apple® computers running the new Intel chip unless you have the Boot Camp patch from Apple® installed [see above discussion.] or are using Tiger. If you would like to be notified when a compatible version is available Click Here.Why do I get a message that CardStuffer™ is open and the game will not proceed on my Mac?
On older versions of the game when using operating system OS 9.x and above, an occasional corruption of the game occurred. This behavior has been corrected in our newest versions. Purchase a paid updater for $9.95USD [Click Here]. This behavior will not occur again. [Alternatively, you may also restore your game from your original backup media. You must re-register with the original key code and be prepared to repeat this procedure if the message reappears.]What is your privacy policy?
All information given to this web site is kept strictly confidential. We will not provide or sell this information to any other party and you will always control how your information is or is not used.What is your refund policy?
Once the game is downloaded and your key codes have been emailed [usually within 24 hours of purchase], NO refunds can be obtained. Purchase of a CD is a non-refundable transaction. If you have any doubts, kindly try the free demo version before purchasing. Thank you.Known Conflicts:
In Windows®, programs published by Green Parrot Software[1st QuickRes], those published by PANTERAsoft [HHD Health] and those published by RKSSoftware [MightyFax] render BridgePro™ and CardStuffer™ non-functional. At&t\Yahoo programs [online protection, messenger, etc.] can cause bizarre effects. The Weather Channel Interactive program causes hang-ups. AOL's and Google's free taskbar updaters causes problems on some machines [contact us for a solution.].